Every cup from my Keurig started tasting weak, flat, stale — so I unplugged it and stuck it in a closet. Then I learned the dirty secret of grocery store K-Cups: by the time a pod reaches your kitchen, it's usually spent months going from factory to warehouse to truck to shelf. The flavor oils are long gone. Some brands even over-roast to hide it.

The fix wasn't a new machine. It was fresh pods from Angelino's, a family-owned L.A. roastery that roasts, packs, and ships within 3–5 days — straight to your door, from 39¢ a cup. Over 1,000,000 happy customers. 50+ flavors, no subscription required, and 15% off your first order, applied automatically at checkout.

Try 35¢ Pods

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October Dinner Club is almost here! You must sign up by Monday to join us for this month’s dinner on Wednesday, October 14.

New to dining with strangers? Come on down! Same time, different places — be part of the movement that brings together new friends at restaurants all over Saratoga. Here’s how it works:

🪶 NIGHT TO RAVEN ABOUT

Saratoga Arts is turning 40, and it's throwing a party worthy of Edgar Allan Poe. The sexy gala fundraiser returns to the Night Owl from 6 to 9 p.m. one week from today — Thursday, Oct. 15 — with a gothic masquerade theme. Think "fun, festive, Halloween masquerade-y," says Executive Director Amy Bloom, with a live raven and a merlin (a small falcon) on hand — plus a magician, string trio, silent auction, and drinks and bites from Glens Falls hotspot Farmacy. The night also honors Dee Sarno, Saratoga Arts' first executive director, who "basically started Saratoga Arts out of the trunk of her car," Bloom says, then led the move to its new Broadway home and the renovation that created the theater now bearing her name. "She's a wonderful human being,” Bloom raves, adding that guests can hit the party dressed in your "most gothic masquerade-y kind of garb."

To grab your ticket, visit saratoga-arts.org.

🍽️ GREAT TASTES

By: Kathleen Willcox

Pam Abrams has a gift for spotting the cookbook everyone will be talking about next, then bringing it to Saratoga. As the curator of SPAC's CulinaryArts series, the writer and culinary insider has turned that instinct into some of the most talked-about tables in town — evenings that pair food, drinks, conversation and storytelling for adventurous eaters and casual cooks alike. Here’s what’s on the table this fall:

Bestselling author Mark Bittman — known, Abrams says, for his “out-of-the-box concepts” — is headed to SPAC for an evening inspired by his new book, How To Cook Everything Vegan. Bittman approaches the subject with his trademark, imaginative gusto (that still magically appeals to the mainstream). So expect a family-style meal with mouth-watering falafel fritters, cold soba noodles, stuffed whole cabbage, “creamy” polenta and chocolate bonbons. After cocktail hour (with apps) and dinner, WAMC host Joe Donahue will interview Bittman before a book signing rounds out the full evening.

Lao food is still flying under the radar compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors, and chef Saeng Douangdara, a first-generation Lao-American, is out to change that with The Lao Kitchen. Douangdara will share his personal story of the Lao diaspora in conversation with Donahue, and serve up vibrant, classic dishes such as Sakoo Eat Tai (tapioca dumplings), Sai Oua Wontons, Nam Khao Tod (crispy rice salad), and Tom Khem (caramelized braised pork stew). The format is the same as Bittman’s evening: social hour, dinner, Donahue’s interview for an upcoming episode of The Roundtable, and a book signing.

If either of these events piques your palate, order your ticket for Everything Vegan or (and?) Cook in the Lao Kitchen at spac.org. Order today — these dinners almost always sell out, just like the season’s first event, the Vermont Adventure Dinner.

📰 IN BRIEF

Tuesday’s City Council budget workshop included a “proposed 18% property tax increase,” reports Saratoga Civic Pulse. The regular meeting discussed UDO, Flock camera safety and more.

The New York State Inspector General's office last night welcomed its first-ever Youth Advisory Council: eighth-graders from across the state, who will meet six times to learn about good government, oversight and public service — the office announced today.

Congrats to Camp Hudson Pines, which just announced that it was named Best Glamping/Rental Accommodations in the 2026 Best of Camp New York Awards. Set on 40 acres inside the Adirondack Park along the upper Hudson River, the campground's waterfront cabins, canvas glamping tents and tiny cabins make roughing it feel anything but rough.

🀄 Mahjong corner

Boot Camp: Sunday, Oct. 18 @ 11 a.m.
Learn the game and play it in one day, with two hours of guided games while it's all still fresh. For brand-new players and anyone who needs a refresher. McGregor Links Country Club; lunch available.
👉 Save my Boot Camp seat!

Guided Play: Tuesday, Oct. 20 @ 5 p.m.
Already taken a class? Join us for beginner-level Guided Play.
👉 Save my Guided Play seat

📌 ICYMI…

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